Most girls in some interior parts of Cameroon, especially the North West region of Cameroon are being seen as properties or even commodities. This is the case of Otttance, 20years old, living in Benakuma village, in Menchum valley a sub division in Menchum Division, North West region.
Ottance grew up without a father; her father abandoned them when she was a baby, so she grew up like an orphan. When she turned 14 her mother told her to get married to a man of 23years, so as to relief her of some challenges she had been going through since their father abandoned them. Orttance objected and it became the beginning of trouble for her. “My mother went to my father’s step brothers and beckoned on them to talk me into marriage, so that the man could be of help to her. When I objected, the family cast a spell on me. I became crippled
and could not walk for nine months. The pains I suffered eventually caused me to get married. However, it was rather unfortunate that when I got pregnant the man abandoned me and fled to the south west region of Cameroon, living the baby and I to suffer. My world came crashing, a baby to take care of on the other hand, my mother and siblings” she narrated.
She thought that her world had come to an end, until she came across two community mobilizers working on a GBV project, sponsored by UNHCR in partnership with BIHAPH. The mobilizers sensitized them on what GBV was and told them of the economic empowerment that the project was offering to survivors. After an interview Ottance was chosen as one the beneficiaries of the project.
Today she is one of the trainees, learning hair dressing sponsored by the UNHCR and hoping to have a saloon of her own someday. “UNHCR has provided me with all the training materials I need, I’m learning with ease and peace of mind. I thank God for this project, it has given my family and I hope, and a reason to live again” othan recounts with all happiness on her face.